Flight

  * * *

  As they shuffled forward along the slow-moving line, Prissi studied the famous old man while Jack told her how close he was to one of the world’s three trillionaires. Jack spent a lot of time at the Airie, Fflowers’ Manhattan penthouse at the southern end of Central Park on The Plaza Plaza. Jack had traveled to Europe and Russasia with his grandfather during school and summer breaks while it still had been relatively easy for the old man to travel. Jack amused the wealthy old man. Although she had no reason to doubt Jack, from the physical changes she was watching unfold on the old man’s face, Prissi was sure that Jack’s relationship with Joshua Fflowers must be much more complicated than he was letting on.

  As they had advanced in the line, Prissi had been watching the icon of fledging, the most famous scienpreneur of the century. He had been bored, then, after he had seen Jack coming his way, he had become more animated. Suddenly, the trillionaire had become extremely agitated. His head was bobbing and twitching, and Prissi was sure she could see a tremor in his hands. The curve of his mouth changed so that the smile became a rictus.

  Turning her mouth toward Jack’s ear, Prissi whispered, “Is this going to be okay?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Look. He seems epic upset.”

  Jack looked, then, laughed, “Probably just frantic that it’s taking so long to see me.”

  When Prissi stepped hard on his foot, Jack continued, “Or besotted by your beauty.”

  “Jack, be serious. Look. He looks horrible. He could CPUke in a second.”